Pop Music 2015 Mix
A mix of the best pop songs from 2015. We’ve collected all of the biggest hits from the year and put them into one convenient playlist for you.
Introduction
The 2015 mix starts off with Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” a track that was first released in October of 2015. The mix also features Bieber’s “Purpose,” which was released in November. Adele’s “Hello” is also included in the mix, as well as her “When We Were Young.” The latter track was released in December. Also featured are tracks by Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, 5 Seconds of Summer, and One Direction.
Best Pop Songs of 2015
The year 2015 brought us some great pop songs. From Justin Bieber to Taylor Swift, there was a little bit of something for everyone. Let’s take a look at some of the best pop songs of 2015.
“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
“Uptown Funk” is a song recorded by English record producer Mark Ronson and American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars, for Ronson’s fourth studio album, Uptown Special (2015). RCA Records released the song as the lead single from the album on 10 November 2014. Jeff Bhasker assisted the artists in co-writing and co-producing the track, with additional writing from Philip Lawrence. This is one of the best pop songs of 2015 because of its great beat and catchy lyrics.
“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
A poll by Vevo found that “Thinking Out Loud” was the most popular song of 2015. It was also the most streamed song on Spotify and the most watched music video on YouTube. The song was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards.
“Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
As one of Swift’s lead singles from her fifth studio album, “Shake It Off” is a new jack swing inspired track with a heavy bass and classic pop format. The song’s theme is about Swift’s ability to move on from haters and the naysayers who try to bring her down. “Shake It Off” was very well-received by fans and critics alike, with many deeming it a return to form for the singer.
“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
“All About That Bass” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor for her 2014 debut EP and her 2014 studio album, Title. The song was co-written by Kevin Kadish and Trainor, and produced by Kadish. “All About That Bass” is a doo-wop and R&B song with influences of hip hop and country that lyrically discusses positive body image. Released on June 30, 2014, the song topped the charts in several countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks, becoming Trainor’s first US number one single and giving her the longest running top position by a female artist since 2009. The single sold 11 million units worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling single of all time.
The music video was released on YouTube on June 19, 2014 and has subsequently received over 1.04 billion views as of March 2020. The video portraysTrainor and several other women dancing while they sing the song’s lyrics about loving their own bodies no matter their size or shape.
“Take Me to Church” by Hozier
“Take Me to Church” is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, released as his debut single in 2013. The song was released as part of his EP Take Me to Church and reached No. 2 on the Irish Singles Chart and No. 1 in both Canada and the United States. “Take Me to Church” has been certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and three times platinum by Music Canada.
Worst Pop Songs of 2015
It’s that time of year again where we reflect on the past twelve months and think about what could have been done better. In the world of pop music, 2015 was a year to forget. There were so many bad songs that it’s hard to even remember the good ones. Let’s take a look at the worst pop songs of 2015.
“Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” by Silentó
“Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” is a song by American rapper Silentó, released on June 25, 2015. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Rap Songs chart. The accompanying music video went viral on Vine and YouTube, receiving over 300 million views in the first two weeks.
The song was widely criticized for its use of the “whip” dance move, which many felt was derivative of other dances created by black artists. In particular, black Twitter users accused Silentó of appropriating the “whip” and “nae nae” moves, which originated in Atlanta’s hip hop scene.
“GDFR” by Flo Rida featuring Sage the Gemini and Lookas
“GDFR” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Flo Rida, featuring American rapper Sage the Gemini and Dutch DJ Lookas. The song was released on November 24, 2014 by Atlantic Records as the lead single from Flo Rida’s EP My House. “GDFR” peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart.
The song was met with generally mixed reviews from music critics, with some critics finding the production and hook to be club-worthy while others found it unoriginal. The music video for “GDFR”, directed by Collins Arnee and premiered on December 15, 2014 on Vevo, shows Flo Rida and friends at a house party.
“Hotline Bling” by Drake
“Hotline Bling” is a song recorded by Canadian rapper Drake, which serves as the lead single from his fourth studio album Views (2016). The song is credited as a bonus track on the album. It was released to rhythmic and contemporary hit radio on October 19, 2015, in the United States. The song was produced by Nineteen85 and Paul Jefferies. “Hotline Bling” peaked at number two on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100.
“Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap
“Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap was one of the most popular songs of 2015, but it was also one of the worst. The lyrics are misogynistic and offensive, and the production is basic and uninspired. It’s a perfect example of why trap music is often criticized for being shallow and unoriginal.
“Baby” by Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris
“Baby” is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber featuring American rapper Ludacris. It was released as the lead single from Bieber’s debut album, My World 2.0, on January 18, 2010. The song features a modified version of the line “You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty” from Ludacris’ song “Runaway Love”, which Bieber uses as the opening line. Upon its release, “Baby” received generally unfavorable reviews from music critics and was heavily panned for its lyrical content; however, some praised Bieber’s introduction to a more mature vocal style on the track. The song is one of the worst-selling singles of all time, selling 1.05 million copies in the United States as of 2018. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Canadian Hot 100; elsewhere, it topped charts in Australia and reached the top ten in several countries including Austria, Germany and New Zealand.
The accompanying music video features several visual references to Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1982). In it, Bieber tries to seduce a young woman in her bedroom but is thwarted by her mother, who walks in on them. Critics panned both the song and video for its maturity compared to Bieber’s previous work; some compared it negatively to Jackson’s Thriller.”
Conclusion
After listening to the Pop Music 2015 Mix, it is evident that the popular music scene has changed drastically in recent years. The introduction of new genres and sub-genres has led to a wider variety of sounds and styles being represented in the mainstream. While there are some familiar themes and elements present in many of the songs, there is also a lot of variety to be found. This mix showcases some of the best and most popular pop music from 2015, and is sure to get you moving and grooving.
